 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Alpha Writer, by Montessorium
- iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
- Price: $1.99
- Category: Education
Common Sense Media says
Clever, hands-on method for learning how to spell.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Alpha Writer, by Montessorium is a Montessori-style learning app that helps kids learn letter sounds and teaches them how to form words. There's a tactile approach to the learning here, as kids can physically manipulate the letters onscreen. They'll hear the sound of each letter as they touch it and drag it into position to form words. The app has four sections. The first two ask kids to spell words after seeing a picture of the word and hearing it spoken. The third section lets kids use letters and images to write their own story. The fourth is a version of "I Spy" that incorporates letter sounds.
What kids can learn
Kids can learn essential literacy skills like letter sounds, letter combinations, spelling, and word recognition with this well-crafted app for emerging readers and writers. The four activities build on one another, giving kids a chance to first develop skills and then practice them in either the creative "Storyboard" activity or the fun "Alpha Spy" game. The app's careful and clear narration makes letter identification tasks understandable and accessible to young kids. With its focus on the building blocks of literacy, Alpha Writer, by Montessorium is a solid tool for helping young kids begin to read and write.
Subjects
- Language & Readingletter or word recognition, phonics, reading, spelling, vocabulary, writing
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
- Arts
- Hobbies
Skills
- Thinking & Reasoningapplying information, part-whole relationships
- Creativity
- Self-Direction
- Emotional Development
- Communicationlistening
- Collaboration
- Responsibility & Ethics
- Tech Skills
- Health & Fitness
What's it about?
Kids choose from two activities, a free play area, and a game. In the two activities, the narrator pronounces a word and asks kids to choose the letters or letter combinations (phonograms) that make up that word. Kids drag letters or phonograms from the top of the screen to hear their sounds and place them into the letter spaces below an illustration of the word. Kids can also play with letters and spelling in the storyboard area or practice their listening and letter recognition skills with the "Alpha Spy" game.
Is it any good?
ALPHA WRITER, BY MONTESSORIUM is an attractive and easy-to-use educational app, though it could use some up-front instructions. Once kids have figured out what to do, though, they can have a lot of fun sliding around talking letter tiles to form words -- all while learning a lot about spelling in the process.
The "Alpha Spy" game is a great way for kids to extend the learning as they practice letter-sound recognition. The app's "Storyboard" feature is basically a sandbox, in which kids can slap together letters and pictures. For older kids who are already somewhat adept at reading and spelling, this can be a neat feature to play around with. But younger kids just learning the ropes will most likely treat it like a Colorforms set and just put together interesting scenes (which isn't necessarily a bad thing).
What kids can learn
Kids can learn essential literacy skills like letter sounds, letter combinations, spelling, and word recognition with this well-crafted app for emerging readers and writers. The four activities build on one another, giving kids a chance to first develop skills and then practice them in either the creative "Storyboard" activity or the fun "Alpha Spy" game. The app's careful and clear narration makes letter identification tasks understandable and accessible to young kids. With its focus on the building blocks of literacy, Alpha Writer, by Montessorium is a solid tool for helping young kids begin to read and write.
Subjects
- Language & Reading: letter or word recognition, phonics, reading, spelling, vocabulary, writing
- Math:
- Science:
- Social Studies:
- Arts:
- Hobbies:
Skills
- Thinking & Reasoning: applying information, part-whole relationships
- Creativity:
- Self-Direction:
- Emotional Development:
- Communication: listening
- Collaboration:
- Responsibility & Ethics:
- Tech Skills:
- Health & Fitness:
How kids will learn
Kids build literacy concepts as they listen to the narrator carefully pronounce each word, emphasizing the letter sounds. Kids can reflect as they choose letters by listening to each sound and comparing it to the sounds of the target word. Though the app doesn't track learning data, kids can save an image of their Storyboard creations to show parents. And while there are no tutorials on navigating the activities, the interface is fairly intuitive and in line with the Montessori method, which emphasizes learning through play and exploration.
How parents can help
- Help your kids get started with the app. Show them how to scroll through the letters and drag them onto the screen.
- Play "Alpha Spy" with your kids using objects around your home. They can expand their vocabulary and connect learning to their real-life experiences.
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| Category: | Education |
| Platforms: | iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad |
| Price: | $1.99 |
| Size: | 78.90 MB |
| Publisher: | Montessorium, LLC |
| Version: | 2.0 |
| Release date: | October 10, 2012 |
| Minimum software requirements: | iOS 3.1.3 or later |
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